by Joe Jackson
“Bull-headed and stubborn,” he said again, and he let forth something between a sigh and a laugh. “I told you not to come here because I knew this was exactly what was going to happen. Let me guess: you’re confused, you’re not sure who you can trust or how much, and now you’re not sure this whole thing isn’t just a trap, yes?” Kari nodded grudgingly. “They’ve got their hooks in you, Kari. And now it’s honestly too late to turn back. Even if you leave now and go back home, they know what entices you, and how to manipulate you into walking right into their clutches.”
“Why are you so damned secretive?” Kari barked. “If you had just talked to me ahead of time, I might have avoided this mess in the first place.”
“I told you not to come,” Celigus said, hiking up his short trousers a bit before he took a seat in a metal chair on the balcony. “As far as being secretive, as I’m sure Eliza explained, there are things I can tell you and things I can’t. There’s a vast difference between living on your world and striking a truce with your gods and your people, and giving away the secrets of my peers and people. The former makes me a potential pawn; the latter makes me a traitor. Quite frankly, Kari, you and your friends are not worth dying for.”
Kari was about to mutter a sarcastic Oh thanks, but she bit it back. “When I met with Lord Morduri, he said the bath chambers were the only places in the city where no one could overhear our conversation. Is that true?”
“Lady Koursturaux is in the bath chamber; we will not be using it any time soon,” the demon king returned. He looked upward toward the other balconies, but there didn’t appear to be any other kings in sight on this side of the tower. “We have about as much privacy here as we can expect anywhere outside of my personal palace or the bath chamber, so speak your mind.”
Recognition hit Kari as squarely as a backhand. “Lady Koursturaux shares a floor with you? I thought Lord Morduri said you all share floors with someone you get on well with?”
Celigus turned so that their eyes met. “Eliza explained to you what a kast’wa is, yes?” he asked, and Kari nodded. “Lady Koursturaux is my kast’wa.”
Kari balked again. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that?” she barked.
He gestured toward her gruffly. “For exactly this reason,” he said. “She’s not my wife, Kari. I have no control over her, and no say in how she conducts her affairs. If she wants to have a child, I’ll probably be the one she has it with, and we tend to entertain each other when we come here for the Council sessions, and sometimes in between. But we are not lovers or spouses; politically, we have nothing to do with each other. If I’d told you that she was my kast’wa up front, whether you understood the meaning of the word or not, you would’ve asked me to ‘put in a good word’ or some such nonsense. In that regard, she wouldn’t listen to me any more than you have.”
Kari turned and looked over the balcony railing. This was precisely the sort of thing that made her hate politics and being considered a noble on her own world. How much nastier it was in this realm, and so much trickier for her to try to grasp. Political marriages, as Aeligos had mentioned before they came, were nothing new or strange to Citaria; but what these demon kings considered a “political mating” was just baffling. It sounded like the sort of thing that would cause more wars and strife than it ever solved, but then, Kari surmised, maybe that was the point.
Turning back to the demon king, Kari asked, “But you could tell me about her, couldn’t you? Or about Lord Morduri, or Lord Emanitar, or even Lord Sekassus?”
Celigus turned toward the door to the bath chamber again for a few moments before he sat back and answered. “I will tell you this and no more: you can trust their plan to get you this syrinthian girl you’re trying to rescue, but that’s where the plan ends. From the moment she’s in your possession, you’re on your own. No one is going to come rescue you if you’re not out of Sorelizar in less than seven days.”
Kari nodded. “And is there any reason to believe I won’t be?”
“They don’t call him Sekassus the Calculating because he plays with numbers,” Celigus answered. “If you think escaping his realm will be as straightforward as walking to the border of the Overking’s realm, you’ve sold yourself quite short. My peers on the Council who’ve decided to help you put a lot of work into getting you to Sorelizar and negotiating for the release of this syrinthian girl; if you haven’t put a similar amount of work into getting out of Sorelizar, you’re probably going to die. Sorry if you expected me to say otherwise.”
“But it won’t be impossible?”
“Improbable, but not impossible,” Celigus agreed. “You’ve been through a lot in your two lifetimes, Kari, but nothing like this. These next few weeks will be the longest of your dual lives; take care that they are not also the last.”
“I just hope this girl is worth the trouble,” Kari said in preparation to leave.
“Don’t count on that,” the demon king said. “She’s been imprisoned since she was just a child; don’t expect that she’s going to be able to tell you anything, much less secrets about Lord Sekassus or his plans.”
That wasn’t what Kari wanted to hear, but she had resolved to see to Se’sasha’s rescue regardless of whether the girl could – or would – tell her Order anything. When the conversation halted, the demon king glanced at Kari sideways and dismissed her with a casual wave of his hand. She made sure to thank him for his time, not even really considering how nice it was to have a demon king she could talk to casually. Morduri had allowed her to speak to him so, but even still, Kari hadn’t been free to truly speak her mind.
Kari made her way back to the lift and returned to the foyer. She went back to the inn, and roused her companions who weren’t up yet. After breakfast, she went to the library with them, to go over the maps and other reference materials they could find, desperate to find several alternate routes out of Sorelizar if it turned out Sekassus pulled some trickery to try to delay or otherwise entrap her.
There were only two real options aside from heading south toward the Overking’s realm: to head east, back to Emanitar’s realm of Tess’Vorg; or to go north into Arku’s realm, Si’Dorra. Si’Dorra was a terrible alternative, but was still better than the prospect of being captured by Sekassus. Going west to Mas’tolinor was out of the question per Koursturaux’ orders, so going back east seemed like the best option. Which, Kari knew – even before Aeligos pointed it out – was precisely the reason Sekassus would make that the most difficult path, aside from the one to the Overking’s realm. Despite all the warning signs, Kari understood that her best option, should Sekassus attempt some trickery, was to go to the worst option: Si’Dorra.
Kari stewed over the prospect for the last couple of days of the Council session. She had made the decision to go forward with the plan, in some small part due to Celigus’ suggestion, but more because Danilynn and Eli had made an oath, and Kari wanted to help them see it through. She let Eliza and her friends know of her decision, and had her companions prepare to meet King Morduri after the final day of the Council session.
*****
Just as Eliza had said, the Council session ended after seven days. Most of the kings left immediately, creating an incredible scene as nearly a quarter of those within the city all left at the same time. Entourages made their way to the gates behind the generally tall and majestic kings, and Kari made a cursory headcount of fourteen kings from a safe enough distance that even King Sekassus wouldn’t see her. That left the Overking and one other, not including Morduri, whom Kari hadn’t seen yet. She waited another half-hour after the other kings had made their egress before she got antsy and went to inquire about Morduri at the palace.
The inside of the palace was as silent as a tomb, most of those who had occupied its vaunted halls having cleared out in the last hour. Even the incubi who served as porters and ushers were nowhere to be seen, so Kari made her way to the railing to glance down upon the meeting hall floor. The Overking sat at the long table with another
king standing nearby; it seemed he didn’t dare to sit in a seat that didn’t belong to him. Kari took note of this other king, for he looked like a duplicate of the Overking himself. Kari couldn’t imagine any explanation but that he was the son of the Overking and Koursturaux, and that revelation chilled Kari to the bone far more than anything else she had learned to date. Certainly, King Koursturaux served the Overking as one of his vassals, but if she was also his lover – in full or in part – then Kari was treading a razor’s edge trusting the female demon king.
Kari backed away from the railing before her presence drew too much attention, and she turned and looked at her friends. “Go find Eliza; we may be heading home if this bastard left us here,” she said. “I’ll meet you at the customs house as soon as I can find out if or when he left.”
“Be careful,” Danilynn said, echoed by Sonja, and the others departed.
Kari made her way up to the library, to see if she could find any of the incubi. There were a couple of them returning books to the proper places on the many shelves, but Kari found something even better before she approached any of them: Emma. The mallasti was assisting the incubi with the tidying of the library, and didn’t notice Kari arrive. Kari was going to approach her to ask about whether Morduri had already left, but she was leery about doing so in front of any of the Overking’s other servants. On a hunch, Kari grabbed a book off of one of the tables and sat down in one of the deep chairs. She pretended to read while she concentrated hard on the mallasti girl’s back, and thought, I need to talk to you.
Ketava, you need not shout, came the reply of the mallasti, who kept on going about her business despite the telepathic conversation.
Do you know where Lord…King Morduri is? Kari asked.
Emma continued putting books away, her replies coming as easily as if she was speaking aloud to Kari. This one suspects King Morduri is outside the city, preparing to leave for his home in Pataria, whether you join him or not.
Why didn’t he just meet us here? Kari prodded.
Ketava, you can honestly be quite dense sometimes, Lady Vanador. You two are clearly up to something, and King Morduri is making every effort to keep whatever it is concealed. To meet you here, in the presence of all the other kings, would have been about as subtle as one of King Baal’s belches.
Kari had to stifle a chuckle despite the insult. Is he waiting for us, then?
This one imagines not for much longer.
And is he your kast’wa? Kari ventured, hoping to catch the mallasti girl off-guard.
Emma straightened up and sighed, though if the incubi in the area knew why, they gave no indication. Lady Vanador, this one is a slave. She no more has a kast’wa than a kingdom. None of His Majesty’s other servants was pleasing to the eye of the elestram king, and so the Overking made this one available for Lord Morduri’s pleasure.
And yet you know he and I are planning something, Kari insisted.
The Overking is no fool, Lady Vanador. Very little escapes His Majesty’s notice, no matter how much he may appear distracted by other things.
And he knows I’m Salvation’s Dawn, too? Kari pressed.
Virtually all of the kings know this now, Emma answered. Most of them do not know what it means, or not the full extent of it, anyway. And with the exception of the Ancient Ones, none of them has the means to use that knowledge fully to their advantage. This does not mean, however, that they cannot use you – only that they do not know how to use Salvation’s Dawn. But you are a great prize to the kings, and you are in danger of being manipulated, used, or killed by every single one of them.
And the Overking doesn’t mind you telling me this?
Ketava, is it not obvious by now? This one is tasked with keeping you alive and ready to be used for the Overking’s purposes. His Majesty will not object to this one telling you enough so that you make fewer foolhardy decisions that put your life in danger, the mallasti answered in condescending tones.
So His Majesty will take a personal interest in what I’m doing with King Morduri? Kari asked. She had to get some feel for what kind of danger she was truly going to be in, and if the Overking valued her life – or more pointedly, her use as Salvation’s Dawn – that might mean she had a much better chance of escaping this expedition unharmed.
To an extent, Emma answered. Whether you live or die is completely in your own hands, Lady Vanador. Just bear in mind that should you die, another Salvation’s Dawn will take your place. And this one will find them, just as she found you. Now, this one has told you as much as she is able and expected to; you must go and meet with King Morduri before he leaves without you. You do not want to travel the realms of Mehr’Durillia unaccompanied.
Well, thank you for talking to me, at least, Kari said, and she got up hastily, ready to go get her friends and take them outside the city to meet Morduri.
You may thank this one by surviving whatever foolishness you are about, so that her efforts are not wasted, Emma returned.
Kari took the comment in stride, and headed down and out of the palace. Within minutes she had collected her companions, and they hurried to the north gate. The gates were open, with a pair of burly erestram guards standing outside vigilantly, despite the complete lack of traffic now that the kings had left. The plain outside the city was dusty and devoid of any noticeable life: the ground was parched, punctuated by long, dead grass that swayed in a stifling breeze that blew in from the west. Everything was cast in a red hue by that angry, swollen sun that bathed the sky in a crimson flood. A well-worn dirt road led toward the northwest, and as Kari took in the scene, she saw a tall figure standing by the side of the road a short distance from the gates.
The others followed in Kari’s wake as she made her way toward what she expected was Morduri. The demon king was dressed in the same well-worn hunting outfit as the first time Kari saw him, adorned with knives and other tools of the trade. His bow was strung and across his shoulders, complemented by a hand-and-a-half sword Kari hadn’t seen before. His purple eyes glowed slightly in the odd light of the Overking’s realm, and his brow arched when he saw the small entourage in Kari’s wake. He folded his arms across his chest and fixed Kari with an impatient gaze when the party reached him.
“Is this your idea of inconspicuous?” the elestram king asked dryly.
Kari glanced at her friends briefly, almost hoping Aeligos might take over the talking in this situation, but though the rogue nodded, it was more one of encouragement. Kari turned back to Morduri and said, “I was told bringing men might be an issue, but these two are the best at gathering information, so I brought them along. Is that going to be a problem?”
“Quite,” Morduri said. “Women draw a lot less attention than men do, even when they are of your species. If you travel with women only, you’re far less likely to draw the wrong kind of attention, or be attacked by overzealous servants of the kings whose realms you cross. As it stands, four women traveling without escort will be a curiosity; you would have been better served with only one other.”
“Four women?” Kari repeated.
“I will not be sending you forth on your own,” the demon king continued in answer. “I will have one of my people escort you to Sorelizar. When you stand in front of King Sekassus, you need to deal with him from a position of strength, and if you have men with you, that will be impossible: King Sekassus will expect the men to do the talking, and your reputation and history as a hunter will be worthless. He may think little of you for being a woman, but you killed one of his sons, and you can rest assured that every one of his servants knows that and, to a degree, respects your power.”
“All right, Your Majesty, so you’re suggesting Eli and I stay behind in the city and just keep nosing around in books?” Aeligos asked.
“As to you two, I make no suggestions other than that you do not attempt to accompany Kari and these other two women,” he countered. “If you choose to spend your time scouting the Overking, be wary that you are not in turn being scoute
d.”
“Damnit,” Kari muttered.
“Well, this was what we were expecting from the start,” Aeligos said. “Eli and I will go nose around in the city some more, see what we can figure out when there isn’t a demonhunter in the city with us. If things get hectic, we’ll have Eliza take us back home. You worry about the three of you, and getting back here safely. We’ll be fine.”
“I had just hoped Amastri might be wrong on this,” Kari said with a sigh.
“As irritating as she is, you’ll find she is very rarely mistaken on anything,” Morduri said. “In any case, I have lingered here long enough waiting for you. Say your farewells, so we can leave. The more you delay, the longer it will take before you return home.”
Kari, Sonja, and Danilynn bid Aeligos and Eli farewell, and Danilynn made an obvious effort not to show too much emotion in front of the demon king. Aeligos promised they’d keep working on gathering information, and that if his grasp of the infernal tongue fell short, they’d find other avenues to be useful without attracting attention. Satisfied that the boys would do their best to stay out of trouble, Kari dismissed them back into the city, and they made their way toward the Overking’s palace. With them on their way to safety, Kari turned her attention back to Morduri.
The elestram king watched the two rir males depart, and then, without a word, he turned northeast and set off toward the distant horizon. Kari and her friends followed after him, but even in their athletic conditions, they found it taxing to keep up with the long strides of the elestram. He stopped every so often to let them catch up to him, and even after several hours of travel, he showed little sign of fatigue. He pushed them onward for hours, until the bloated sun collapsed wearily to the horizon as though struggling simply to remain above the edge of the world.
“We will camp here for the night, and should arrive in Moskarre tomorrow morning,” the demon king said, the first words he’d uttered since they left the gates of Anthraxis.
